CHANTILLY, Va. — A 22-year-old man has been arrested following a sexual assault that occurred at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27 inside Chantilly High School. Officers responded to the school at 4201 Stringfellow Road after the victim’s mother contacted police advising her daughter had been assaulted two hours earlier.
Officers discovered a man wearing a mask entered the school with other students early in the morning. He approached the female victim, who believed he was another student. The man initiated a conversation and then inappropriately touched the victim. She was able to get away as other students approached. She contacted her mother and returned home prior to alerting school officials.
Upon hearing from the mother, officers searched the area surrounding the school and located Galata Bekele Bengessa, of Fairfax, on foot near Route 50 and Fairfax County Parkway. He was identified as the offender and taken into custody. During the arrest, Bekele Bengessa “made statements to officers that led him to be taken to a nearby hospital to receive treatment,” police said.
Last night, Bekele Bengessa was arrested and taken to the Adult Detention Center. He was charged with abduction by force, sexual battery, and trespassing on school property. Further Investigation led officers to two additional victims, who reported similar incidents involving the suspect that occurred away from school property.
